Mentor Telemachus Program
Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association
Southwest Section
Who was Mentor? Goals Mentor was the friend and surrogate father to Telemachus, son of Odysseus and Penelope. When Odysseus was off to the Trojan War, Men‐
tor watched over Telemachus, introduced him to community leaders and guided the young man’s search for his father and heritage. Even today a mentor’s protégé is sometimes referred to as “the telemachus”. Mentor’s ancient guidance is not all that differ‐
ent from a contemporary mentorship. Both di‐
rect us toward understanding our professional inheritance and our full potential within it. Men‐
tors provide such guidance to those who have yet to fully engage themselves in their profes‐
sions. The Southwest Section seeks to develop mentor‐
ships that: 1. Are professional in nature; 2. Help students transition to the work world in their area of interest; 3. Create opportunities for professional develop‐
ment, networking and exchange of ideas; 4. Expose students to mentors of differing back‐
ground and/or area of interest; 5. Reconnect alumni with their alma mater; and 6. Are mutually satisfying and beneficial. Purpose The Mentor‐Telemachus Program will provide opportunities for students and SW Section mem‐
bers to close the distance between school and the profession through face‐to‐face and E‐
mentoring relationships. Section members can enrich the quality of the student experience by interacting, exchanging ideas, and sharing their experiences and knowledge with future plan‐
ners. Basic Commitment Mentors commit themselves to provide one or more students with an opportunity to spend half a day touring their workplace and shadowing them at work. Students would observe a typical workday including meetings with staff and cli‐
ents. A series of basic coaching sessions com‐
pleted by phone, e‐mail or in person will com‐
plete the basic mentor commitment. The type and frequency of these sessions are determined by the mentor so as to be the least interfering with their personal and professional priorities. "My mother certainly says I am Odysseus' son; but for myself I cannot tell. It's a wise child that knows its own father." (Telemachus to Athena as the Taphian stranger. Homer, Odyssey 1.215). Communication General Structure It is hoped that each student and mentor pair would engage (minimally) in several informal exchanges by phone or email. These interactions would help the student be better informed about the profession in which the professional is em‐
ployed, about their career path, and about ways the student can prepare for, move into, and ad‐
vance in the profession. A student planner at the Indiana County Office of Planning and Development will serve as the Mentor‐Telemachus Program Coordinator and administer the program. Students and mentors will need to fill out a short survey to be used by the student to broker likely matches between students and mentors. Once a match is made the details of program activities come under control of the mentor and student. Beyond the basic commitment, students and mentors are free to flesh out specific activities as they see fit. Further Coaching and Shadowing Beyond the basic commitment the relationship could grow. Depending upon willingness, the mentor could decide to provide students with an opportunity to perform mock job interviews or introduce students to the professional network. Mentors could also provide advice on career op‐
tions, share professional “war stories”, direct the student towards internships/summer positions, volunteer opportunities and permanent jobs, and/or consult on résumés, cover letters, or cer‐
tain ways to approach a potential employer. Who Should be (a) Mentor?
Mentor was not Telemachus’ only guide. The goddess Athena would occasionally disguise herself as
Mentor providing divine, if hidden, guidance to
both Telemachus and Odysseus. So both disguised
goddesses and mere mortals can be mentors. The
only requirement is a sympathetic desire to assist
young people on the early legs of their own professional Odyssey.